brand + visual identity

Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT)

Tertiary educator the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) had a very stale visual identity with an image library full of outdated photos and artwork designed piecemeal with no overarching style guide. The existing CPIT brand had been in the tertiary market for a number of years. The brand was out-dated, had no strong point of view, and no differentiation from the competitors.

To reinvigorate the institute's public perception, more accurately reflect a changing student demographic, and ultimately to attract students to enrol, I created a new brand identity brief to encapsulate:

Vibrant colours
Multiple people to convey community (the institute's mission was “The community in CPIT and CPIT in the community”)
Movement
Reflective of diversity especially Maori
Convey energy, enjoyment, and enthusiasm

I worked with an agency to develop a new brand identity including new logo, colour palette and style of photography.

I decided to use actual students for the photos and conducted a student model search on campus, which was successful for several reasons:

Fulfilled an institute directive to engage students
A key motivator for people is to see themselves or someone they would like to be, reflected back in photos
Created a great story to use for PR purposes
It was an accurate depiction of student life and the diversity of cultures

The result was a clear, instantly recognisable brand, full of light and energy, that had a clear point of difference and conveyed a sense of strength and optimism. quite different to the competitor set. Reputation research confirmed its appeal to the target market.

Executions included out of home advertising, print adverts, cinema, expo and event theme’ing, brochures, social media, digital marketing and merchandise. Using real students as models assisted in the viral spread and brand awareness.